The Vatican released a scathing 10,000-word review of the global financial system on Thursday, specifically calling out derivatives like credit default swaps, products credited with helping cause the global financial crisis a decade ago. Credit default swaps — or derivatives contracts designed to guarantee against bond defaults — made headlines in 2008 after they were blamed for exacerbating the financial crisis. Traders who felt invincible realized that the components of their alleged hedges were far riskier than previously thought, as they were propped up by rotten assets such as defaulting mortgages. “The market of CDS, in the wake of the economic crisis of 2007, was imposing enough to represent almost the equivalent of the GDP of the entire world,” the Holy See said, first reported by Bloomberg. “The spread of such a kind of contract without proper limits has encouraged the growth of a finance of chance, and of gambling on the failure of others, which is unacceptable from the ethical point of view.” Since these investments have been “securitized” multiple times it “transforms them into a ticking time bomb ready sooner or later to explode,” the Church said. “Economic activity cannot be sustained in the long run where freedom of initiative cannot thrive,” the document says. “It is also obvious today that the freedom enjoyed by the economic stakeholders, if it is understood as absolute in itself, and removed from its intrinsic reference to the true and the good, creates centers of power that incline towards forms of oligarchy and in the end undermine the very efficiency of the economic system.”Personally, I find that the Church’s stance on wanting to close the gap between the rich and the poor and its financial knowledge refreshing. Money can be a form of bondage to a fulfilled life. The question is who will take the time to educate those who are willing to learn. Do you understand the difference between an asset and a liability? A financial education is not only important, but one core idea is the ability to not just want more and more money but manage the money you do have. It’s not about how much you make but how much you keep.

Stars such as Beyoncé and Hugh Jackman have spoken publicly about following intermittent-fasting plans to get in shape. So how does intermittent fasting work? We spoke with one of the leading neuroscientists in this field, Mark Mattson of the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, to learn more.

Following is a transcript of the video.

How long has it been since you last ate? People who fast intermittently often eat within an eight-hour block, leaving 16 hours of fasting in between. During that 16-hour stretch, their bodies undergo an important change that sets them apart from nonfasters.

Here’s how it works.

When you eat, you store some of that energy in the liver as glycogen. But after 10 to 12 hours of not eating, your glycogen reserves will be extremely low. As a result, you may feel more irritable than normal — or “hangry.”

The upside is, with little glycogen left, fat cells in your body release fats into your bloodstream. The fat cells head straight to your liver, where they’re converted to energy for your body and brain. So you are literally burning fat to survive

Blood samples show that people who fasted for 12 to 24 hours experienced a 60% increase in energy from fat, with the biggest change occurring after 18 hours. This is the benefit to intermittent fasting because it puts you in a state called “ketosis.” And it’s why researchers think intermittent fasting could be the key to a longer, healthier life.

I’m not a nutritionist nor a medical professional, so view and read this article with your own discretion, nor do I endorse the ideas in this video. Personally, I find intermittent fasting fascinating, and I’m curious to see if its results are legitimate and don’t have long term negative effects. I’m willing to test it personally. I believe in prayer and fasting, so I’m interested in seeing what effects can have on the body. But scientists have discovered that fasting increases ketone levels more. Ketogenic diets can increase ketones fourfold whereas fasting has been shown to increase ketones by up to twentyfold. As a result, fasting, compared to a ketogenic diet, may have a stronger, more beneficial effect on overall health. Fasting and ketosis have been keys to our survival from the beginning. They helped our ancient ancestors survive through bouts of starvation. And today they’re becoming recognized as ways to help keep future generations mentally and physically disease-free. Our bodies have limits and scientifically knowing how to test and push those limits is the key to human discovery. I think our bodies were originally born in a perfect state both physically mentally emotionally and spiritually. Sin caused a separation from this perfect state, and our current life is a pursuit to re-attain that original design. I think humanity can reach that original state. With the advent of technology, there are many different levels that are being developed. What will be your impact on legacy and eternity?

Thankfully at the end of May, I was able to pay off a card as I had planned. Next month my wife and I will be travelling to Delaware to visit her grandfather. I’m looking forward to getting some time away from work and being able to travel. It’s important to take some time to rest in your journey to be debt free. Paying off debit is not just physically exhausting, it’s also mentally and emotionally exhausting. Remember to take some time to rest and restore energy back to yourself. Next month, I plan to make a shift, and being to target the Capital One card, and my goal is to pay this card off by the end of the year.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

This month’s video is The Craziest Talk EVER | David Goggins – MOST Motivational Speech from the Mulligan Brothers YouTube channel.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ending April, I’m thankful to say I’ve made a significant step toward paying off another credit card. By the middle of May, the card I’m targeting should be paid off. I’m very thankful. With each card, or loan I’m paying off I’m taking the loan payment I was paying and rolling it into the amount I’m paying toward debt. It is a snowball effect. There are at least three different ways to pay down debt. The core principles of debt reduction are targeting a balance, targeting an interest rate, and using extra income to target a balance. My wife has taught me a very important extra principle in my journey to be debt free. The extra principle is to set aside a portion to save. I’ve focused on paying down debt and building assets, but it’s important to set aside a reserve. To be honest, getting out of debt is exhausting, and so is saving. But if through your spending whether responsible or irresponsible, you’ve ended up in this position, then I think it’s your responsibility to fight to get to your original place. A place of debt free. It’s exhausting if you’re alone, but I want you to know that you’re not alone. A key component of your journey to being debt free is believing and knowing that you are not alone.

Even if you don’t have a significant other, you have an inner voice that says you can do it, keep going, and press on. Listen to the voice that gives you hope and strength. And if the voice doesn’t say those things, then know I believe you can be debt free. Plan your work and work your plan. You may have to work harder than most, but the seed you plant if it is a good seed will reap a good plant.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

This month’s video is WHEN LIFE HITS YOU AND YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP | MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO from the Lion of Judah YouTube channel.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

At month end, I’m so thankful for what God has done. Honestly, it’s nothing that I could do on my own, and I haven’t been able to do what’s happening now in all my years of fighting debt. Including what you see in the snapshot, a term loan, and a credit card balance have been paid to zero. I had to sell an asset to pay off the term loan, but the peace of mind is worth it. Also, we received back our Alabama tax refund, and I’ve been able to increase my savings at an amazing rate. All these miraculous changes are because of my willingness to be open and honest with the one I love the most. It’s freed up something that I was meant to have for a long time. This situation applies to my life, and your situation is different than mine. But I encourage you to not do life alone, and if you need help seek help. Nonetheless have a vision, and a plan to be debt free. Build a space in your life for what it will look like. You weren’t born into this life with credit card and or student loan debt. Somewhere at some point, you may have made a choice to enter debt. But the truth is you can, and you are meant to be FREE. Ask yourself, if the Borrower is slave to the Lender then how can I be both at the same time? Build a budget to know how much you have at the end of the month, and when do your debts have to be paid. Ask yourself can I find a way to make an extra $100 to $200 a month?

Your journey to a debt free me truly begins when you can be honest with your self both financially and internally.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This month I began creating and implementing a system in my new role. I’m enjoying this role, because it’s taking the existing skills that I have, improving on those skills, and learning new skills all for fulfilling the vision of my workplace in 2017. This new role is also enjoyable because I must be creative. I honestly don’t know if I could be able to handle this pace of life if it wasn’t for the help of the Lord and my darling wife. I’m very thankful that when I come home at night, I have a meal ready to eat. I’m going to work early and leaving late at night. I remember a time when it was a struggle for me to get to work on time, whereas now I really have no choice due to where I live and the commute I must take to get to work. It’s a longer commute time, which some would think of as uncomfortable, but I look at it as an opportunity to improve on a work habit. The extra time I have early in the morning allows me to prepare my mind mentally for the day, and staying late, allows me to finish what I need to finish or just relax my mind to close the day.

It’s important to take every storm as an opportunity to look for and seek the end of the storm. The truth is every storm has an end, and that there is a plan and a purpose in every storm. Next month, I’m going to use a balance transfer to assist in covering living expenses. My wife has decided to take her licensing test next month vs. this month, and I completely encouraged her to do it. I’d rather she be comfortable and pass the test the first time, rather than run the risk of failing it. We’re also pursuing in applying for a personal line of credit for her to assist in consolidating her debt. It’s important to get credit when you don’t need it, because if you try to get it when you do need it, then it may be too late. Use the lower interest rate payments to save money and payoff consumer debt faster. One of my associates in my organization sold one of his first combined policies, and I’m very excited at his level of enthusiasm, and look forward to helping him achieve his goals. My goal for the year is to become a better communicator and so far, I’ve been face with numerous opportunities to develop this skill.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income, while reducing debt or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”‭‭Deuteronomy‬ 28:12‬ NLT‬‬http://bible.com/116/deu.28.12.nlt‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Here are the balances and the total amount that’ s been paid up to this point as of 9/15/2015.

Wells Fargo Line of Credit

$5,300.00

Capital One Card

$6,300.00

Barclay’s

$2,196.00

TD Ameritrade

$0.00

Total Credit Card debt: $8,496.00 and Total Credit Card/Line of Credit Debt: $13,796.00. With prayer and discussion with my fiance, we agreed to do a zero percent balance transfer to pay off the TD Ameritrade. We agreed that the best option is to pay off the smaller balances first. I’m re-directing my focus to pay off the smaller balances so I can then pay off the Capital One card. When you’re paying off debt, it’s important to have someone you can talk openly with about your decisions and your process of debt reduction. The other person can give you insight and ideas that you may have not considered. Remember you’re never alone,we’re better together and I believe that the Lord will guide you to the best steps to accomplish a debt free me.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”